Several RV parks operate within 30 miles of Ericson, Nebraska, providing varied options for motorhome travelers. Valley View Flat Campground at Calamus SRA offers electric sites with 30/50 amp service, water hookups, and accommodates large rigs. "We have a 38' 5th wheel and have no problem parking that and a boat and tow vehicle in our area," notes one camper. Willow Springs RV Park in Burwell maintains 60 sites with full hookups and 50 pull-through spaces, operating year-round for RV camping convenience. Fort Knox Campground provides full hookup sites with 50 amp electrical service, sewer, and water connections near the Calamus River. Riverside Campground in Ord features seven big-rig friendly sites with 30/50 amp electrical service, water, and sewer hookups on level ground.
Summer weekends at Calamus Reservoir campgrounds often reach capacity, making advance reservations advisable for RV sites. Dump stations are available at Valley View Flat and Taylor RV Park, though not all facilities offer this service. Pets are permitted at most RV parks in the region, with designated pet areas at several locations. Seasonal availability varies, with Carney Park operating from April through September while others like Pibel Lake State Recreation Area remain open year-round. One traveler mentioned that Fort Knox Campground requires self-contained RVs as it lacks restroom facilities. Daily rates range from $15 at city parks to $45 at private RV parks with full amenities. Cell service can be spotty at more remote locations, particularly at wildlife management areas where reception is limited or nonexistent.
"Tents sites: 25. 50 pull thrus. 60 full hookups. electric hookups. Services: water, laundry, toilets, showers, dump.
Was quiet and conveniently located for the road trip we were on!"
"After being stranded for several hours with a flat tire we found ourselves behind schedule, And making it by with 5 out of 6 tires."
from $25 / night
"They are Electric with water and dump close by. The week days are super quiet, and weekends are packed with campers. Off season there might be only 5 rvs. Lake access for boats and fishing."
"Finding a camping spot with access to the lake is difficult. After driving around the lake, we found one, and it was an amazing spot! Clean outhouses. "
from $10 - $25 / night
Available this weekend
from $30 / night
"Nice campground close to the lake and right next to the golf course!"
from $30 / night
GuideJust a quick stop to check out another great area of Nebraska!🤙 Yes some road noise, I was parked closer to the road, tolerable. NO FIRE PITS 😔 The sandbars that were mentioned are seeing driving in, but the campground is NOT on the river! It is a close walk & well worth it! The majority of the camp sites border a ball field.
GuideBig city park off the river. Three rv sites, electric only, tent camping available up river? Late August found one other camper, campground quiet, herons came by at sunset to fish.
ScoutQuiet, shaded with large trees, good electric hook ups. Bathroom not very clean. We wanted to shower there but chose to wait another day
ScoutThis is an awesome little Campspot. There are three sites with electricity and water. They have a nice little bathhouse with a shower, towels, and other supplies you might need. It’s first come first serve. We paid $20 a night and it was well worth it.
GuideThis is one of my favorite spots in north central Nebraska! Its a great place to come and enjoy fishing for trout in Verdigre Creek or catch a northern pike in the main lake. There are dispersed camping spots around the lake, and many have fire rings, grills, or picnic tables. There are also numerous vault toilets scattered around area. No cellphone service, water, or electricity. Camping is free for up to 14 days.
If you have a bigger camper, the south side of the lake near the creek inlet will be your best bet, but come early as spots fill up quickly on the weekend. There are no designated camping spots exactly, so often it seems campers are set up close together. Privacy isn't really the best! The south side also features a nice sandy beach-like area if you want to relax in the cool spring-fed water.
GuideCampgrounds for RVs have been redone recently and are really nice. They are Electric with water and dump close by. The week days are super quiet, and weekends are packed with campers. Off season there might be only 5 rvs. Lake access for boats and fishing. Showers onsite are pay. Beautiful sunrises. Half sites are reserved, half are fcfs. Holiday weekends fcfs fill up midweek.
LegendOrchard City Park is a cute, shaded city park that makes for a decent, budget-friendly stopover, though it has some limitations for larger rigs.
At $10 a day (as of May 2026), it includes electric hookups at the sites and an available dump station. The water situation is a bit tricky - there is only one shared water spigot for the entire park, located in the middle near the playground. It is pretty far from the actual campsites, so you would probably need at least a 100-foot hose if you wanted to fill when parked at the campsites.
Two of the sites are on paved pads and are quite level. There appears to be two more sites on grass. The park itself is on the smaller side and would be difficult for big rigs to navigate. There is a picnic shelter in the park, and individual picnic tables near the campsites. There is one charcoal grill available for use. They also have restrooms with a shower on-site; they are definitely very old, but they seemed usable.
The biggest downside is the noise level. Because the park sits right on the highway, there is a lot of traffic noise during the day; there are a lot of trucks on this route. It probably gets a little quieter at night, but it is very noticeable during the day.
I didn't see much of anything in this town as far as restaurants or other commercial establishments.
I had an ok Verizon 4G signal here that got 30Mbps down but only 1.5Mbps up.
LegendThe Ewing City Park campground features about 10 gravel sites that are mostly level. Each site offers full hookups including power, water, and sewer for$13 a night. What a bargain!
The sites are fairly close together, spaced about 10 feet apart. There was nobody else here during my stay, so there was plenty of room and privacy. Houses and farm buildings surround the campground on two sides, which gives it a cozy feel. The campsites do not have any shade. I could see semi trucks and hear some highway noise from my position in campground. There are no fire rings, and only one site had a picnic table.
There are no restrooms located directly at the campground. However, there are restrooms at the city park/baseball field, which is about a 5 minute walk. They were older but functional. That city park also has a small playground, tennis courts, and a basketball court. There is a cell phone tower across the street, but evidently it is neither Verizon nor T-mobile. But I had a good Verizon 4G signal with 100 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up. My T-Mobile signal here was poor, at about 1 Mbps up and down.
The downtown area is within walking distance and had a few businesses. There is a scenic, historical mural in town.
TravelerI wrote my previous review shortly after arriving here at Carney Park in O'Neill. I've noticed something after being here a few hours. This campground has a dirt road running through it, like many campgrounds. But this one is a shortcut many people use, kicking up LOTS OF DUST. Not one of the dozens of vehicles that have come through here in the last few hours has used this park in any way except to pass through it.
Camping options near Ericson, Nebraska include a range of state recreation areas and private RV parks throughout the Calamus River region. Located in the Nebraska Sandhills at approximately 2,100 feet elevation, this area experiences hot summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F from June through August and cold winters dropping below freezing. Most campgrounds in this region experience strong seasonal visitation patterns with limited availability during summer holiday weekends.
Fishing opportunities: The Calamus Reservoir area offers exceptional fishing for walleye, northern pike, and white bass. Valley View Flat Campground at Calamus SRA provides convenient lake access. "Spent a night here by the water and experienced a beautiful sunset. Its a perfect place to camp for a night or kayak for an afternoon," notes one Calamus visitor.
Rodeo events: Summer visitors can catch local rodeo competitions near camping areas. "Nice place for an evening or morning walk to stretch legs around rodeo arena, between baseball fields and then around and small pond," mentions a camper at Carney Park in nearby O'Neill.
Water recreation: Boating and swimming are popular activities on Calamus Reservoir from May through September. "This lake is amazing — clean and with a sand base," reports one visitor to the reservoir, though they note camping spots are "limited and close to others."
Clean facilities: Many area campgrounds maintain well-kept amenities. At Valley View Flat Campground, a tent camper reported "Bathrooms were very clean and overall had an amazing experience. I would recommend this spot to anyone especially for tenting."
Level camping sites: Riverside Campground in Ord features seven sites designed for easy setup. Similarly, at Carney Park, visitors appreciate that "sites are level. Clean showers and restroom."
Convenience stores: Supplies are accessible at several locations around Calamus Reservoir. One camper at Valley View Flat noted "Chopped wood for sale at the nearest gas station," providing easy access to campfire supplies without leaving the area.
Reservation requirements: While some campgrounds operate on first-come, first-served basis, others require planning. At Fort Knox Campground, "you must make a reservation" as one visitor discovered when "looking for a place to land at 4:30 pm on a Sunday in June with no reservations."
Self-contained requirements: Some facilities have limited amenities. Fort Knox Campground requires self-sufficiency as "there was no restroom on site" according to a recent visitor.
Seasonal operations: Operating seasons vary significantly between campgrounds. Carney Park runs "April to September" while others maintain year-round accessibility.
Payment systems: Many smaller campgrounds use self-registration. One camper at Carney Park mentioned "Self serve payment envelopes" and "Stay up to 3 days without checking in to the city offices."
Budget-friendly options: City parks offer economical camping. At Riverside Park Camping Burwell, visitors find "City Park, 30A service, 4 long pads, room for a few others. Park amenities, 2 single bathrooms, 1 coin shower. Clean and maintained. $10 per night."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. At Carney Park, one family mentioned a "cute play park with swings" making it more appealing for those camping with kids.
Swimming areas: Family-friendly water access points are available at multiple locations. One camper at Calamus Reservoir specifically mentioned "Nice swimming and fishing spots" making it suitable for families with children of various ages.
Emergency services: Local assistance is readily available if needed. One Carney Park visitor who "Locked my keys in the truck" reported "The O'Neill Police opened my truck, within 20 minutes. I noticed they also patrolled the area."
Site dimensions: RV sites vary significantly across area campgrounds. At Willow Springs RV Park in Burwell, campers find "60 Sites. Tents sites: 25. 50 pull thrus. 60 full hookups" providing numerous options for different rig sizes.
Full hookup availability: Several RV parks offer comprehensive services. At Taylor RV Park, one camper appreciated that "It has full electrical, water and sewage hookups," noting it was particularly helpful "when we were left somewhat stranded" with vehicle issues.
Shower facilities: Coin-operated showers are common at area campgrounds. At Valley View Flat, a visitor reported "You have to pay for showers. 1.25 for 6 minutes got the job done."
Road conditions: Construction can affect access to some RV parks. One camper at Carney Park warned "They are doing road construction and they have road completely torn up and one way section of road into campground," suggesting visitors should check current conditions before arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions
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